Pale Alder Moth
Common NamePale Alder Moth
Scientific NameHydrelia sylvata
FamilyGeometridae
SubfamilyLarentiinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, white
HabitatDamp woodlands, fens, marshes, riverbanks
Geographic RangeEurope, parts of Asia
Host Plantsalder, birch, willow, aspen
Flight PeriodMay to July
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larva is green and feeds on the leaves of various trees and shrubs. Pupation occurs in a cocoon among leaf litter or in the soil.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its pale, mottled grey-brown coloration and the characteristic broad, diffuse darker band across the outer part of the forewing. Its size and preference for damp woodland habitats are also key indicators.
Description
A small, cryptically patterned moth with pale greyish-brown to whitish-ochreous forewings marked with indistinct darker cross-bands, most notably a broad, diffuse band near the outer margin.
